Articles tagged with Internal Affairs
New Zealand Introduces Online Safety Bill to Protect Children Under 16 on Social Media
1 day ago | 80 viewsThe New Zealand Government is introducing the Online Safety Bill to ban under-16s from social media and hold technology companies accountable for protecting children online. The Bill mandates high-risk platforms to verify users' ages, assess and report risks to children, and imposes penalties up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliance, while establishing an independent regulator. It aims to align with international standards, includes emerging technologies like AI companions, and supports education efforts to help families navigate online safety.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Erica Stanford Online Safety Bill New Zealand Government social media children’s safety technology companies AI companion platforms Department of Internal Affairs education ministerNew Zealand Lowers Public Lending Right Threshold to Boost Author Recognition
2 weeks ago | 200 viewsMinister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced that the eligibility threshold for the Public Lending Right scheme will be lowered from 50 to 30 copies held in libraries, allowing around 170 more New Zealand authors to be recognized and paid. This change, supported by 77.1% of consultation submissions, balances broader access with maintaining the fund’s integrity and includes a new mechanism to efficiently address underpayments. The $2.4 million fund, managed by the National Library, aims to keep the scheme fair, relevant, and accessible within the current parliamentary term.
Tags: Brooke van Velden New Zealand Authors Public Lending Right National Library of New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs Kiwi literary works Cabinet Parliamentary term Department underpaymentsGovernment and Community Fund $950K to Boost Youth Education and Employment in Waikato
1 month ago | 283 viewsThe Waikato Region will benefit from joint Government and community funding initiatives to support over 400 young people in education, leadership, and employment pathways. The Hauraki Māori Trust Board received $316,000 (matched to $632,000) for a two-year early intervention program aiding 320 students' transition to high school, while the Raukawa Charitable Trust got $120,000 to run employability and education programs for 80 youth. Youth Minister James Meager emphasized that these partnerships leverage local knowledge to provide tailored support, align with government targets, and enhance opportunities without extra taxpayer cost.
Tags: James Meager Waikato Region Hauraki Māori Trust Board Youth Development Partnership Raukawa Charitable Trust Len Reynolds Trust Ministry of Youth Development Department of Internal Affairs youth employment education pathwaysNew Zealand Councils Achieve Major Milestone with Approved Water Services Plans
1 month ago | 471 viewsAll mainland New Zealand councils now have approved water services delivery plans under Local Water Done Well, marking significant progress toward more reliable and financially sustainable water services. Regional water organisations, such as Southern Water and others, are being established to improve efficiency, expertise, and access to finance, with five already operating and thirteen more expected soon, covering three-quarters of New Zealanders. The Government has repealed the previous Three Waters policy, returned water assets to local communities, and implemented regulatory reforms to reduce costs and enhance service delivery, with continued oversight by the new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.
Tags: Simon Watts Amy Adams Waitaki District Council Local Water Done Well Southern Water Waikato Waters Tiaki Wai Selwyn Water Department of Internal Affairs Ministry of Cities Environment Regions and TransportNew Zealand Unifies AML/CFT Regulation Under DIA to Combat Financial Crime
1 month ago | 436 viewsNew Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has become the sole regulator for anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), consolidating oversight of about 6,100 reporting entities to provide clearer guidance and reduce compliance burdens. The government has passed multiple reform bills and launched a four-year AML/CFT National Strategy (2026–2030) aimed at making it easier to do business while targeting organized crime and fraud. An industry levy, starting in July 2027 and designed with sector input, will help fund enhanced intelligence sharing, supervision, and regulatory administration to strengthen New Zealand’s ability to detect and disrupt money laundering.
Tags: Nicole McKee Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand Financial Markets Authority Reserve Bank Ministry of Justice Financial Intelligence Unit organised crimeMinister Brooke van Velden Calls for Review of Fire and Emergency NZ Funding Model
2 months ago | 437 viewsMinister Brooke van Velden has requested the Department of Internal Affairs to review the current insurance levy system funding Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), as 95% of its income comes from property insurance levies established in 1975. Given FENZ's expanded role beyond fire-related incidents to include medical emergencies and disasters, and the fact that only 59% of recent incidents were fire-related, there are concerns about the fairness and suitability of the existing funding model. The review will explore potential improvements and alternatives, considering issues like free-riding and implementation feasibility, without affecting the new levy rates set from July 2026.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Fire and Emergency New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Fire Service levy Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 insurance levy FENZ fire incidents levy payersNew Zealand to Repeal 150+ Obsolete Laws in Government Spring Clean-Up
2 months ago | 452 viewsThe New Zealand Government, led by Attorney-General Chris Bishop, plans to repeal over 150 outdated and obsolete laws as part of a statutory spring clean to simplify the legal system and remove confusing, archaic legislation. This process, managed by the Parliamentary Counsel Office and Department of Internal Affairs, involves public consultation and careful review to ensure relevant stakeholders are involved, with repealed Acts preserved online as part of the country’s historical record. Examples of laws targeted for repeal include century-old local Acts regulating milk supply and fish markets, reflecting the project’s goal to modernize laws while retaining New Zealand’s legal heritage.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tyrone Barugh Kaitangata Relief Fund Transfer Act Caledonian Society Of Otago Joint Council of the Order of St John New Zealand Red Cross Society Parliamentary Counsel Office Department of Internal AffairsNew Zealand Minister Brooke van Velden to Represent NZ at International Labour Conference
2 months ago | 561 viewsWorkplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden will represent New Zealand at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, where she will discuss the country’s employment law reforms, including the gateway test that clarifies employment status for platform-based workers. She will also participate in the Asia Pacific Labour Ministers meeting and engage in standards-setting discussions, while taking the opportunity to meet with senior leaders in London and Singapore to discuss labour market and health and safety reforms. The conference, hosted by the International Labour Organization, gathers around 4,000 attendees from 187 member states to address global labour issues.
Tags: Brooke van Velden New Zealand International Labour Conference Workplace Relations and Safety Internal Affairs Asia Pacific Labour Ministers United Kingdom Singapore International Labour Organization Labour MinistersNew Law Prevents Children from Buying Lottery Tickets and Updates Key Regulations
2 months ago | 599 viewsThe Regulatory Systems (Internal Affairs) Amendment Bill has passed its final reading, closing a loophole that previously allowed children to purchase certain lottery products by applying age restrictions uniformly. The Bill also amends 30 Acts to enhance the Department of Internal Affairs' efficiency, including improved information sharing with international law enforcement, passport cancellation for compromised data, and streamlined identity verification processes. These changes collectively strengthen regulatory oversight, protect vulnerable groups, and improve administrative functions within the Department.
Tags: Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill Brooke van Velden Department of Internal Affairs Gambling Act Lotto NZ RealMe Classification Office Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act child gambling restrictions fertility clinicsGovernment Creates New MCERT Ministry to Unite Environment, Housing, and Transport
2 months ago | 516 viewsThe Government has passed legislation to create the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), consolidating several agencies including the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and Ministry of Transport. The Environment (Disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill enables this integration by transferring statutory environmental functions to MCERT’s chief executive, ensuring seamless continuation of environmental responsibilities. This restructuring aims to promote coordinated decision-making that balances environmental protection with economic growth across urban development and infrastructure sectors.
Tags: Chris Bishop Nicola Grigg Ministry for Cities Environment Regions and Transport MCERT Ministry for the Environment Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Ministry of Transport Department of Internal Affairs Environment Act RMA Reform MinisterRaveen Jaduram Appointed Chair of Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board
3 months ago | 574 viewsInternal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has appointed Mr. Raveen Jaduram as the new Chair of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board, succeeding Rebecca Keoghan MNZM. Mr. Jaduram brings extensive experience in infrastructure governance, financial oversight, and strategic leadership, which will support the Board's accountability and investment management in emergency services. Keoghan was thanked for her leadership during the organisation's post-amalgamation phase, where she strengthened structure and advanced workplace culture and integrity.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Raveen Jaduram Rebecca Keoghan Fire and Emergency New Zealand New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Water Services Authority Auckland Transport Internal Affairs Minister Crown entity Chair public utility chief executiveNew Zealand Passes Major AML Reform Bills to Cut Red Tape and Boost Business
3 months ago | 670 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed the passage of two major Anti–Money Laundering reform Bills that cut red tape, reduce compliance burdens, and improve risk-based requirements for businesses, with some changes effective immediately and others by July 1, 2026. The reforms establish a single AML supervisor to replace three existing ones, enhancing clarity, consistency, and responsiveness, while introducing an industry levy and enabling more flexible rule-making. These changes aim to make AML compliance more efficient, reduce unnecessary paperwork for low-risk entities, and strengthen New Zealand’s ability to detect and disrupt serious financial crime without hindering access to global markets.
Tags: Nicole McKee AML reform Parliament New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs AML supervisor Business Committee Financial Markets Authority Reserve Bank of New ZealandNZ Citizenship Processing Hits Target After Six Years of Delays, Minister Says
3 months ago | 755 viewsAfter six years of delays, New Zealand's citizenship by grant processing has met timeliness targets for six consecutive months, with 94.6% of applications processed within 75 days in 2025. This improvement results from a focus on efficiency, prioritizing older applications, and has coincided with a 12% increase in applications and record processing volumes. Minister Brooke van Velden praised staff efforts and emphasized the importance of granting citizenship to those contributing to the country, while applications can be submitted online or by post.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Department of Internal Affairs citizenship processing New Zealand citizenship applications timeliness targets citizenship by grant citizenship office application backlog citizenship outcomesTransforming AML Compliance: New Zealand’s Practical Reforms for Effective Anti-Money Laundering
3 months ago | 553 viewsThe speech highlights significant reforms underway in New Zealand's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system aimed at reducing unnecessary compliance burdens, enhancing risk-based approaches, and consolidating supervision under a single agency to improve effectiveness and clarity. Key legislative changes include easing customer due diligence for low-risk entities, introducing a new industry levy to fund better intelligence and guidance, and enabling more agile regulatory responses to evolving risks and technologies. The speaker emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government and industry, the alignment with international standards, and the role of the new National Strategy in ensuring a more efficient, responsive AML framework that supports economic security and combats financial crime.
Tags: AML AML reforms Ministry of Justice Department of Internal Affairs Financial Action Task Force National Strategy AML compliance AML legislationNew Zealand to Introduce Citizenship Test for Grant Applicants from Late 2027
3 months ago | 707 viewsMinister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced that from late 2027, a multi-choice test will be introduced to ensure citizenship applicants understand the responsibilities and privileges of New Zealand citizenship. The test will cover topics such as the Bill of Rights Act, human rights, democratic principles, and government structure, requiring a 75% pass mark. This measure aims to strengthen the value of citizenship by grant and will be supported by guidance resources to help applicants prepare.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Minister of Internal Affairs New Zealand Citizenship Act Department of Internal Affairs Bill of Rights Act human rights citizenship by grant democratic principles New Zealand citizenship